“The New Model is There Is No Model.”

Some of you have heard me say this. Sounds coy, but what’s it mean, right? Despite economic downturns, the last ten years have been good to us creatives. Internet tools are fast, highly supported, and often free or low cost. You can now do almost anything. The advent of the mobile office, laptops, wi-fi, and broadband mean you can go almost anywhere. Now with the proliferation of social networking, you can know anyone. Does business development still require strategy and research? Now more than ever. However, unlike the past, one can rapidly custom build what ever they envision today. The old technology, location, personnel, and cost barriers are gone or almost miniscule, meaning a new form of hyper-ability. The down side is that there is no historical data to learn from.

So we rely on metaphor. Juxtaposition of existing models on new business concepts. This takes highly creative people, and requires more risk, but has much higher pay offs. I predict that unpredictability will become even more commonplace. (There is an enigma.) This is heavy lifting for investors, but puts a higher value in trust. People, experience, and raw emotions become more valued than systems, plans, and organizations.

You now have permission to do what you want, how you want. The New Model is There Is No Model. Time to retool, or finally get wet? Need help?

Keys to creating great “retro” style design

The most important component is understanding and defining the period you are choosing to draw from and the context of that historical time.

A common mistake I see is blended periods, which can equal a blended message. If you are drawing from a 1920’s Art Nuevoux theme with it’s Victorian influences, don’t mix that with a 1940’s Art’s & Crafts theme, with it’s background in modernism. While there is some crossover, one should have a general knowledge of periods, movements, and influences before mucking about in them.

You might not want to use a modern 1960’s ad agency style font with a 1940’s graphic.

The 1800’s cowboy was far different from the 1950’s cowboy. Pecos Bill and Steve McQueen were very different culturally.

1800’s steam-punk is not 1900’s industrialization although they are are related.

Creative license and juxtaposition are great tools, but should be exercised out of knowledge not ignorance.

Research resources:

Thrift stores or antique stores. Museums. Books from bookstores or the library. Historic film like A&E, The History Channel or PBS. And of course the ever growing Internet.